After steady improvement this fall, the Monmouth College men's and women's cross country teams are ready to test their skills with an eye on moving up the standings at this weekend's Midwest Conference Cross Country Championships in Beloit, Wis.

      "I really like the way we've progressed this season," said coach Jon Welty. "We feel the women could be in a top-four spot and the men right there, too."

      The Scots men – seventh a year ago – tout a group of improved top three runners and a hard-charging pack in their quest to move up the ranks. Junior Cooper Pauley – the most experienced of the top seven – has turned in the sixth-fastest time in the league this fall. Monmouth's No. 2 man – sophomore Tate Heiple – ranks 18th and Bryent Van De Wostine is 23rd in the pre-meet rankings, just three spots out of an all-conference award.

      "Cooper, Tate and Bryent have done a good job of getting themselves where they need to be," praised Welty. "Our pack of returners has done a great job and our younger guys are finding their race at the right time. I'm excited to see what the pack can do."

      The primary pack – Tyler Bland, Jay Gray, Brandon Allsop, Tanner Heiple and Dustin Watts – have run at a 60-second split this season. That pack closeness and the potential of three all-league performers at the top have Welty excited for the men's possibilities.

      "Each of our top three will have slightly different race plans," explained Welty. "I'd like to have three all-conference guys, but they'll run different races. We've run good pack times this fall and that bodes well for a good team finish. As long as we can get them a little tighter pack time, we could be right there challenging for a top-four team finish."

      Welty's women placed fourth a season ago and could be on track for a repeat, if not better. Led by junior Joanna Podosek, who has the league's seventh-fastest time, the Scots expect three women to challenge for all-league honors. Right behind Podosek is sophomore Caitlyn Allen – the Scots' No. 1 runner a year ago – who is ranked 18th in the MWC for the weekend and No. 26-ranked Jessica Salinas.

      "I'm really excited on the women's side," said Welty. "Caitlyn has been steadily improving. She's getting close to where she was a year ago, so I wouldn't be surprised if she and Joanna ran side-by-side this weekend. They could be in the top five or 10. Jessica has the potential to climb into the top 20, but will have to run a good race."

      In order for the Monmouth women to equal or better last year's team finish, they'll have to get solid races from their 4-7 pack of Kate Saulcy, Kelci Foss, Amy Wollenburg and Katelynn Propes. The group has turned in a respectable 45-second split this season.

      "That group packs a pretty good punch," proclaimed Welty. "Katelynn has stuck with it and done a fantastic job in her four years with the program. She's come a long way since her freshman year. If we can get that pack about 15 seconds closer to our No. 3 runner, we'll be in a good spot. I really like the way the women are running right now. They showed a lot of mental toughness in our last race at Bradley. I think they're as ready as ever for the conference meet."

      The Scots men and women ran their season-best times two weeks ago at the Bradley Pink Classic, giving Welty plenty of reason for optimism this weekend when his team runs on a "flat and fast" Beloit course. The men's race begins at 11 a.m. Saturday with the women to follow.